Platu 25 World Championships at Gmunden, Austria - Day 2
by Carla Anselmi 1 Jun 2011 09:54 BST
28 May - 3 June 2011
Platu 25 worlds day 2 © Jesus Renedo / International Platu 25 Class
A thunderstorm warning over Lake Traunsee temporarily halted racing for the 46 strong fleet at the Platu 25 World Championship in Gmunden. Yet, three races were completed, Italian Montefusco still on top but the Spanish crews bounce back.
It was a mixed day at the Platu 25 Worlds, as far as wind conditions were concerned. Still three races could be sailed by the 46 boats strong fleet participating to the second day of the championship.
The first race started with a good 8 knots at the beginning but, during the last leg to the line, the breeze dropped so dramatically that most of the fleet could not finish.
Victory went to the Spanish team of GAES Mundomarino, skippered by Francisco Sanchez Ferrer who profited from this result to climb back to the top part of the scoreboard, seriously threatening the Italian crew of Euz II skippered by Sandro Montefusco who got in second ahead of German champion Kyra helmed by Lars Bähr.
As the crews were preparing for the second start a thunderstorm warning forced the Race Committee to hoist a postponement flag and to send the boats back ashore for safety reasons. Luckily enough the storm was quickly over and racing could resume at around 5 p.m.
The second race of the day was sailed with a wind that topped 9 knots max. Ideal conditions for all the Platu 25 but, as it seems, especially for the Spanish sailors. In fact, victory went to Vilagarcia helmed by Bernardo Paz followed by Cormedia-Coppel Dental skippered by Jose Manuel Perez. To cross the line in third were French on Black Flag led by Christophe Chaffardon.
Later in the afternoon the Committee started the third and last race of the day. Spanish team of GAES Mundo Marino confirmed their excellent condition with another win, that place them on the second step of the provisional podium, only one point behind the Italians on Euz II Monella Vagabonda. Germany’s Ub’s Immak Inst Service finished in second while the third place went to talented Swiss crew of SuperbusI helmed by Mathias Bermejo.
The provisional results, after six races and with one discard, see the top spot still in the hands of Euz ll Monella Viziata leading by just one point (22) on GAES Mundo Marino (23) and five on Bribon-Movistar (27) helmed by Marc de Antonio.
The 2011 Platu 25 Worlds resume today with more races and, undoubtedly, will be as exciting as ever with the Spanish Armada, five boats in the first ten places, attacking the Italians and trying to keep at bay the Germans.
More information on the Platu 25 class website.